Gone for You (Sixth Street Band #1) (12 page)

“There’s enough seats in this thing for twelve people,” I joked. “You don’t have to sit on the floor.”

She turned sideways, resting her head on my knee.

“My dad…he had a limo just like this.” Her smile lost a little shine at the memory. “We never had a car when I was growing up. My mother used to get so mad at me because I loved to crawl around on the floor.” Shrugging, she looked down. “I don’t get to ride around in limos anymore. I guess it just reminds me of my childhood.”

“I never rode in a limo until we signed with a record label.” Stroking her hair, I fanned it out over my jeans. “I didn’t even ride in a limo to the prom.”

She propped her elbow on my knee, her eyes going wide. “Tell me about your prom.”

“Not much to tell.” Tracing my index finger down her cheek, I brushed it along her bottom lip. “I’m sure it was just like yours. Except, maybe you didn’t have to ride there in your best friend’s twenty year old pickup truck.”

Actually, I couldn’t really complain about that. Logan’s tiny Ford had a single bench seat, assuring that my date for the evening was on my lap for the entire ride. Who knows if I would have had the nerve to go all the way if Crystal hadn’t taken the initiative after having my cock pressed against her all the way home?

“I didn’t have a prom. I came out when I was sixteen,” Lily said, resting her cheek on her hand. “I went to Hockaday.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, darlin’, but if you’re telling me you were a lesbian until you were sixteen, I’d be happy to explore that with you.” I waggled my brows.

“You perv.” Lily bit the inside of my jean-clad thigh.

“Ouch!” Grabbing her under the arms, I pulled her onto my lap. “No biting—unless we’re naked.” I kissed the tip of her nose. “What’s Hockaday? And tell me all about coming out. Don’t spare any details.”

“It’s not that sexy. Hockaday’s an all-girls school. I had my ‘coming out’ party when I was sixteen.” Puzzled at my confused expression, she stared at me. “You know, a debutante ball? Big-ass hoop skirts? Boring guys with crew cuts?”

I’d heard about debutante balls. But I didn’t know they actually still had them. And again, my only experience with all-girls schools was courtesy of Logan’s vast porn stash.

“Sounds fancy.” Pulling her legs up so she was completely on my lap, I settled back in the seat. “Who took you to this big ‘coming out’ party?”

She shifted uncomfortably, staring down at her fingernails. I closed my hands over hers. “You can tell me,” I cajoled. “Did he have a hump? Three nipples? Or a—“

“No,” she snapped, cutting me off. “He was just a regular asshole. No deformities. Unless you count arrogance and an underdeveloped personality.”

“I was just kidding, darlin’.” Resting my chin on her shoulder, I gave her a squeeze. “Just make me a list of any of your old boyfriends. I’ll take care of them for you.”

“I told you before, Cameron, there was only one guy. Ever. One fucking asshole.”

She finally looked up, noting my shocked expression.

“What? Big surprise!” Scooting off my lap to the far end of the seat, she folded her arms across her chest. “I’m nothing like you. My parents didn’t let me go to parties or dances. And my only boyfriend—no, my fiancé—broke up with me because he didn’t want to be married to an ‘artist.’” Dropping her head to the back of the seat, she stared out the sunroof.

Chuckling to myself, I shook my head. Lily turned to me, fury igniting in her eyes.

“It’s not funny, Cameron.”

The band tightened in my chest at the sight of her trembling chin.

“Lily…” I scooted to her side, but she refused to look at me.

Dropping to my knees on the floorboard, I pried open her legs and positioned myself between her knees. I grabbed her calves when she tried to pull her legs away.

“Let me go.”

Wrapping her legs around my waist, I held them there until she looked at me.

“Darlin’, I wasn’t laughing at you.” Kneading the outside of her legs, I took a calming breath before I continued. “I was laughing because when I was growing up, I thought people like you, like your family, didn’t have any problems. My old man would go on a bender and leave for days at a time. Sometimes my mom had to go to the neighbors to ‘borrow’ a loaf of bread to make us toast with sugar. For
dinner
.”

Her legs fell away when I let them go, turning until my back was against the seat. It felt good to share a bit of my past with someone without fear it would make its way into some D-list gossip column. Too good.

Reaching for a distraction, I grabbed my phone and listened to the voicemail from Logan. He ticked off the name of the club in Deep Ellum where the band was having the meet and greet. I opened the text and typed in a response.

I was complicating the situation. Muddying the water. And I couldn’t help myself.

“Where do you live, darlin’?” I looked over my shoulder at Lily. “I thought we could swing by your place and pick up a few things. There’s a thing tonight in Deep Ellum.”

“I can’t tonight.” Her face fell, a forced smile appearing on her lips.

“Lily, I have two more days here.” Taking her hand, I brushed my thumb against hers. “I’d like to spend them with you. Every minute.”

“I’m sorry.” She looked out the window, not meeting my gaze. “I have plans.”

My stomach tumbled onto the floor at her feet, along with my pride.

“Can’t you break them?”

For me.

“I can’t.”

“Suit yourself, darlin’.”

Pulling my hand away, I checked the emails on my phone. Then I played Angry Birds. Then I just stared at the screen.

The limo finally, mercifully, pulled to a halt in front of The Mansion.

“Cameron?”

Her eyes were finally on me, but I was too pissed to look up. The driver swung the door open.

“I’m sorry. I have to—”

“No worries, Lily.” Cutting her off, I looked up from my phone. “We were just killing time.”

My smirk faded when her face went blank. She was out of the limo, running for her car before I could think.

Fuck.

Cursing, I hit the seat and jumped out.

“Lily!” I scanned the sea of cars.

My head swung in the direction of the engine that could only be hers. I moved toward it, but it was too late. She was out of the space, heading for the exit before I was halfway there.

Chapter 14

S
itting at the end of the couch in the VIP area, I nursed my second beer. This wasn’t even my kind of club. My kind of crowd. The music was a loud and obnoxious blend of techno and pop. The only purpose it served, as far as I could tell, was to provide a beat so the girls that flocked around inside the velvet ropes could grind against each other.

Logan sipped his beer, his gaze trained on a couple of girls who had caught his attention. They weren’t inside the VIP area, but just beyond the ropes. Logan motioned for Seth, the wall of muscle that doubled as security when he wasn’t tearing down our equipment, to invite them inside.

Seth sauntered over to the pair, his hands drifting low on their hips when he drew them into a huddle. The willowy brunette looked over Seth’s shoulder, licking her lips when she locked her gaze on Logan’s. I didn’t know exactly what kind of proposition was involved, but the slow smile that passed over Logan’s lips was a pretty good indication.

“You want Betty or Veronica?”

Logan loved to throw in the reference to the blond and the brunette in the old Archie comics every chance he got. I think the dude must have used those comic books like porn when he was a kid. When I turned away, he swatted my leg.

“If you’ve got a thing for Lily, own it, son.” He snorted. “You’re the one that said she was a one and done.”

“She is,” I barked. “She just bailed a little earlier than I expected.”

“Well then.” Logan leaned back in his seat, watching the girls walk toward us, hand in hand. “Her replacement is coming off the line right now.”

I looked up at the blond, who parked herself in front of me. She wasn’t much of a replacement. It wasn’t even a good dye job. Her dark roots gave her away.

“Take a seat, darlin’.” Grabbing the brunette’s hand, Logan pulled her down next to him. “I’m Logan. But you already know that, don’t you?”

The brunette giggled, still holding on to her friend’s hand.

“This broody fucker is Cameron.” He locked his eyes on the blond, while the brunette wound her arm around his. “Why don’t you see if you can lighten his mood?”

“I’m Candy,” the blond said, wiggling between Logan and me on the couch.

Of course you are.

“Nice to meet you, Candy.” Pushing to my feet, I drained my beer, looking anywhere but at her. “What’s everybody drinking?”

Candy crossed her legs. “I’ll take a shot.” Licking her lips, she rubbed her foot up and down my calf. “I lose my mind when I do shots.”

“Shots all around then!” Logan hooted.

I chewed the inside of my lip to keep from rolling my eyes. “Be right back.” Putting my head down, I walked toward the bar.

“Four shots of Jack.” Pressing my palms on the bar, I leaned forward, shouting loud enough to get the bartender’s attention. He nodded.

“That didn’t take long.”

I turned to find Lindsey standing with her back against the bar, surveying the room.

“What are you talking about?” I reached into my pocket, throwing a twenty on the bar for a tip.

“I’ll say this: she was pretty.” Sipping her drink, she gave me a sidelong glance. “But she wasn’t really your type, was she, Cam? I mean, she actually spoke in full sentences. Even had a few witty comebacks. It threw me a little.”

My stomach flipped. Lindsey had spoken to Lily at the rehearsal. I never did find out what that was all about, but the burning in my gut told me it wasn’t good.

“Oh yeah?” Grabbing one of the shots off the tray the bartender placed in front of me, I downed it. “What were the two of you chattering about?”

“Not much. I just told her to enjoy herself.” Meeting my hard gaze, she took the red swizzle stick from her drink and swept her tongue over it. “While it lasts…”

While it lasts?

“Groupies…they all think they’re ‘the one.’” Lindsey snorted. “I told her to make sure she got cab fare tonight.” Her gaze drifted to where Candy sat waiting across the room. “It’s a good thing.”

“She’s not even here, Lindsey.” I wished she were here. I wanted her to be here.

“Sure she is. I saw her ten minutes ago on the dance floor.” Looking blandly at the partygoers outside the velvet rope, she dropped her swizzle stick back into the glass. “I figured you and your new friend chased her out of the VIP area.”

The Jack splashed over the shot glasses when I dropped the tray on the bar. “It wasn’t her. She doesn’t even know where I am.”

Lindsey’s brow arched. “Of course she does.”

“How would she—“ As I whipped my head toward the dance floor, Lindsey’s lilting laughter cut me off cold.

“I had to tell her.” She waved her hand dismissively. “In case she was lucky enough to be photographed with you again, I wanted her dressed appropriately. That outfit she was wearing at the rehearsal was atrocious. And those pink sneakers?
Hideous
.” A smile curled her lips. “I’m sure they all look the same in the dark, but I can’t have the public thinking you’re banging a homeless girl.”

Looking down at her hand when she patted my chest, I shrank at her touch.

“Don’t give it a second thought.” She sighed. “She’s out of your hair. Let Chad worry about it.”

“What’s Chad have to do with it?”

“He’s the one she was dancing with.” She snorted derisively. “If you could call it dancing. It looked more like he was humping her leg. Chad has no—”

Before she could finish the thought, I was pushing my way through the small crowd, scanning every face. Ignoring Lindsey’s booming voice at my back, I worked my way to the end of the VIP area. The blood pounding in my ears drowned out the music. Gripping the railing, I searched the dance floor, spotting Chad Dyer’s tangled mess of black hair. He was the drummer for Crimson Five, a D-list boy band that somehow made its way on the ticket when one of the more seasoned groups dropped out of the tour.

I could barely make out the shape of the girl he was hunched over. My blood heated under my skin, scalding my insides, when I saw Lily’s long, blond hair whipping from side to side as Chad shimmied down her body.

Seth grabbed my arm when I shoved past the velvet rope.

“What’s up?” he said, alarm written all over his face. “Cam—”

Shrugging out of his grip, I waded into the crowd, spotting the pretty boy’s mess of wavy, black hair ten feet away. Chad had Lily pressed against him, one arm snaked around her waist while he waved the other over his head like a douche. My fists clenched reflexively at my sides as I took the last few steps.

“Get off her!” I grabbed Chad’s shoulder and yanked him backward.